iOS 6 makes its debut on iPhone 5: Nothing new to see here

Apple has just unveiled iOS 6 at its event in San Francisco. We first heard about some of the new features in iOS 6 back in June. In fact you can find a complete run down in iOS 6: What you need to know. Few new details were announced today. Below are a few of the major updates from iOS 5

The latest version of Apple’s mobile platform will run on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and the new iPhone 5. It will also roll out to the iPad 2, third-generation iPad, and the fourth-generation iPod touch.

The headline features are the new Maps app which replaces Google Maps with a 3D map that you can zoom into and rotate. It also supports visual or audio turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates. Then there’s an upgrade for Siri, which now allows you to check up on sports scores and stats, find movie showtimes and recommendations, make reservations for dinner, post to Facebook or Twitter, and open apps directly with voice commands.

Passbook is a new app to handle tickets, boarding passes, coupons, and loyalty cards. Apple revealed a few partners: American Airlines, Ticketmaster, Starbucks, Target, Delta, Fandango, Sephora, MLB, and the Sheraton Group.

Other than that we have a host of small improvements we already knew about including a quick instant SMS or iMessage reply option when you can’t take a call, a VIP list for emails, and the ability to share photo streams.

If you were wondering how the new iPhone 5 with its longer, larger screen would handle old iOS apps, the answer is letter-boxing. The apps will be automatically centered and black bands will fill in the gaps, at least until the developers can get new optimized versions into the App Store.

iOS 6 will roll out on September 19 along with a new version of iTunes custom built for it.